6 Indians Among Crew Of Pirate-Hijacked Ship Carrying Turkish Weapons Off Somalia

Six Indian sailors were among the crew of a cargo ship hijacked by pirates off Somalia’s coast, according to a Somali official on Thursday. The M/V LUTUF, owned by Polar Movement Shipping, was intercepted about three-and-a-half nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland’s Eyl district on Monday. The ship was carrying Turkish weapons destined for a military training facility in Mogadishu, along with communications and satellite equipment.

Its ten-man crew consisted of six Indians, one Turkish national, one Georgian, and two Serbian security guards.

Eight pirates, possibly members of a group involved in the hijacking of a different Turkish vessel on April 26, took control of the ship and steered it towards Puntland’s Dangoroyo district. Turkish vessels and aerial surveillance quickly responded to the hijacking, with Turkish helicopters and drones monitoring the situation.

A small boat later approached the hijacked vessel, delivering khat, a stimulant commonly consumed in Somalia before returning to shore. The boat's return triggered an airstrike, resulting in the deaths of four men and injuries to two others. The identity of the attackers and the status of those killed remain unclear and unverified.

The fate of the LUTUF, including its crew and cargo, is presently unknown. The Associated Press refrained from independently confirming all details of the account and did not receive any immediate response from Turkish authorities regarding the hijacking.